Successful Reforestation Project in Osa Peninsula

Reforestation is a crucial and necessary step to prevent biodiversity loss. The Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica is one of the world’s most biodiverse regions, with over 2.5% of the world’s species. Unfortunately, the rainforest in the region has been under threat for years due to development. Grow Jungles, dedicated to reforestation and many other projects, partnered with Osa Conservation to help reforest in strategic locations of the Osa Peninsula, all to help contribute to Osa Conservations Ridge to Reef initiative.

The partnership between Grow Jungles and Osa Conservation is a critical step to ensure more of these projects can be worked on. As Grow Jungles, we work with landowners to establish long-term partnerships and plant diverse species to create healthy and resilient ecosystems. In contrast, Osa Conservation is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the Osa Peninsula’s biodiversity. The organization has a comprehensive approach to conservation, including habitat restoration, species research, and community engagement.

The partnership between Grow Jungles and Osa Conservation is an excellent example of how two organizations can come together to achieve a common goal. The project began in 2022, with Grow Jungles and Osa Conservation planting 1500 trees on a two-hectare plot of land on the Osa Peninsula. The planting took three days, and the project’s total duration was five days, including preparation time. The team consisted of 13 people.

Osa Conservation carefully chose the planting site, as it was the only available area not already covered in primary forest. The chosen location was especially significant, as it was where the most endangered species the organization was working with would be planted. This species, Pleodendron costaricense or canelillo, has only four known examples in existence. The team collected 200 seeds from one of the remaining old-growth trees in Rancho Quemado and tried to germinate them, but only two survived. These two examples were then given to the project team to plant, representing a third of this species’s world population. The team planted them in a special, shaded area, away from the main planting site, and marked their location with GPS.